Dual wrapping and packaging machine



Feb. 3, 19 31. .1. P. ALDRICH ET AL 1,791,154

DUAL WRAPPING-.AND PACKAGING. MACHINE Filed Sept. 28; 1928 7 sheets-sheaf 1 Feb. 3,1931. Y J. P. ALDRICH ET AL 1,791,154

DUAL WRAPPING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 1931- J. P. ALDRICH ET AL 1,791,154

DUAL WRAPPING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28. 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 3, 1931.

J. P. ALDRICH ET AL DUAL WRAPPING 'AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 UL FH Fe 3, 1 1 J. P. ALDRICH ET AL 1,791,154

DUAL WRAPPING AND PAQKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 3mm aw l. W

A r-MM! A M 7 Sheets- Sheet 6 J. P. ALDRICH ET AL DUAL WRAPPING ,AND PACKAGING MACHINE "Filed Sept. 28, 1928 Febl3, 1931.

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e 1931. J. P. ALDRICH ET AL 1,791,154

DUAL WRAP PING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept 2a, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb; 3, 1931 UNEEED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P ALDRICH AND HOWARD A. 'MORBIS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIG-NORS TO THE AUTOMAT MOLDING 6t FOLDING COMPANY, OF 1."OLIlilD0, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DUAL WRAPPING AND PACKAGING MACHINE Application filed September 28, 1928. Serial No. 308,940.

This invention relates to article wrapping and packaging mechanism, but more particularly to a machine for wrapping individual butter bars with relatively flexible sheet material, arranging them in convenient shape for packaging, and subsequently packaging the pile or stack within a carton.

Objects of this invention are to provide a simple and eiiicient mechanism, which is adapted to wrap and package articles of different sizes, as for example, to wrap and package four one-quarter pound bars of butter, oleomargarine, or the like, and also by a simple adjustment of the mechanism, to wrap and package two one-half pound bars of butter; to provide new and improved means for feeding articles along a guide which is adjustable to vary the rate of move ment of the articles; to provide an adjustable top plate for the receiver for conveying articles from one level to another which may be adjusted to accommodate articles of different sizes; to provide a simple and efficient conjoint driving arrangement for the machine Which enables the rate of operation of the parts to be readily and conveniently adj ust-ed to accommodate articles of different sizes; and to providea simple and efiicientmachine of the above character having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings,'in which:

. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the article feeding mechanism, on which the unwrapped articles are initially placed to be advanced to other parts of the machine; Fig. 2 is'a fragmentary view of a portion of the article feeding mechanism showing the means for adjusting the rate of advancing movement of the feeding device; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of an end portion of the feeding mechanism and receiver showing the means for adjustment to accommodate articles of different sizes; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine frame and a portion of the article feeding mechanism showing the conoint driving arrangement, a number of parts, such as the stacker and: folding mechanisms,

being omitted; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the machine frame showing the clutch and driving mechanism for adjusting the speed of operation of the machine; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the clutch arrangement; Fig. 7 is a side-elevation of the stacking mechanism and kicker illustrating the means for stacking and packaging one-quarter pound bars; Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing steps in the stacking of one-quarter pound bars; Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views showing steps inthe stacking of one-half pound bars; Fig. 1.2 is an end elevation of the sheet feeding and severing mechanism; Fig. 13 is an end elevation of a portion of the sheet feeding and severing mechanism showing details of construction; Fig. 14: isa sectional elevation of the gear arrangement for driving the rolls of the sheet feeding and severing mechanism; Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of thegears for operating the sheet feeding and severing mechanism; Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the segment feeding rolls adjusted for feeding sheet segments for one-quarter pound bars; Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but showing the adjustment of the segment feeding rolls for one-half pound bars; Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation on the line 1818 of Fig. 19 show ing a'portion of the means for adjusting the position of one of the segment feeding rolls; v

F ig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the segment feeding rolls showing the means for connecting it to'the respective drive shaft; and Fig. 20 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a machine for wrapping and packaging either four one-quarter pound bars of butter, cleomargarine or the like, ortwo one-half pound bars- In orderto adjust the machine to accommodate bars of one size or the other, but comparatively simple adjustments are necessary so that an unskilled workman is enabled to adjust the machine to wrap and package bars of either type. i

In many respects this machine resembles that shown and described in our previous Patand illustration of the various parts of the machine are considered unnecessary, it being considered sufficient only to illustrate and describe those features of construction, arrangement and operation which are characteristic of this machine with such supplemental description as to enable the construction and operation to be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

As shown in Fig. 1., unwrapped bars are delivered to the article feeding mechanism A, which as described in our above mentioned patent, consists of a pair of longitudinally extending horizontally spaced guides to receive the bars, between which operates a table or feed bar, to which is imparted successively, upward and horizontal advancing movements and downward and horizontal retracting movements so that the butter bars are, step by step, or progressively, advanced along the guides. As shown, onequarter pound bars B are arranged in a row on the guides in juxtaposed relation, iaving been advanced to ward the discharge end of the table.

Vertical movements are imparted to the central bar or table by levers 1 interconnected by a rod 2 and operatively connected through links and levers 3 to a cam 4. Horizontal movements are imparted to the central. bar by a lever 5, which is pivoted on a shaft 6, and is provided at one end with aroller 7 projecting into a yoke bracket 8 fixed to the underside of the feed bar. The opposite end portion of the lever is formed with an elon gate slot 9, to which the end portion of a rod 10 is connected. At one end of the slot is an adjusting screw 11, and at the opposite end an adjusting screw 12. The rod or link 10 is connected at its opposite end to a lever 13 pivoted intermediate its end at 14. The opposite end of the lever 13 is operatively con nected to the cam 4. A plate 15 provides means for securing the end portion of a link 10 in the slot 9.

As shown in Fig. 1, the link 10 is connected to the lever 5 in such manner that a relatively short stroke is imparted to the bar or table so that the bars B are progressively advanced but a short distance at each stroke. By adjusting the point of connection between the link 10 and lever 5 toward the shaft 6 the length of stroke may be increased so that at each operation of the table the articles may be advanced a greater distance. As shown in 2, the parts are arranged to f ed onehalf pound bars, it being desired to advance the enehalf pound bar at each cycle of operation twice as far as a single one-quarter pound bar to compensate for the difference in sizes of the two bars. The screws 11. and 12 provide for more accurate adjustment of the connection after the parts have been arranged in the desired position.

The bars are advanced to one end of the table into engagement with a vertically disposed stop plate 16, which limits their further movement. The stop plate 16 is pro vided with arms 17, which are slidable on horizontal rods 18 to enable the stop 16 to be adjusted closer to or farther away from the guides, the end portion of which is indicated by the numeral 19. will readily be understood that for one-half pound bars the stop 16 must be moved a greater distance away from the endportion of the table than in the case when one-quarter pound bars are advanced. Tn 8 the stop 16 is shown adjusted for one-half pound bars. individual bars cischarged from the feed table are de livered to a vertically movable receiver 20, which is connected to be operated by bell crank lever 21 operated from the cam i in timed relation to the movement of the feeding device, fully described in the above mentioned patent.

In order to preserve the properposition of the bars on the receiver a top plate 22 is carried by the receiver and engages the top surface of the bars delivered thereto. The top plate 22 is of sufficient size to engage the top surface of the one-quarter pound bars, but is not of suflicient width for the one-half pound bars. in order to accommodate the one-half pound bars, an extension plate 23 may be employed. The extension plate 23 is provided with bracket arms 24-, the end portions of which are adapted to align with bosses 25 on the receiver, and a pin 26 adapted to extend through openings in the bosses 25 and arms 24: to hold the parts in assembled relation. It is manifest that the extension plate 23 may be readily mounted in place when the machine is used to wrap and package one-half pound bars.

After an individual bar has been delivered to the receiver 20 the latter moves downwardly, and a rain2'. is horizontally advanced to shove the bar from the receiver along a lower guide way into engagement with a sheet of relatively light flexible material, and to the sheet folding mechanism (not shown). As the operation of the ram forms no part of the present invention, further description is 7 not considered necessary.

As shown in Fig. l, C indicates the sheet feedi g and severing mechanism, which cuts the sneet material into segments of proper dimensions to wrap the individual articles, and D indicates the carton feeding mechanism which delivers carton blanks into the path of movement of the articles after the latter have beenwrapped with sheet material and stacked in the proper manner. E indicates a paddle or kicker which operates to advance wrapped articles in a row and deliverthem to the stacking mechanism. The par-, ticular means for folding the sheet material about the article: and for folding the carton blanks about the stacked articles, forms no part of this invention, and detailed description and illustration is not given.

The stacking mechanism is shown in Fig. 7, and is likewise described in detail in our above mentioned patent. From this figure it will be observed that the kicker E delivers the articles advanced by the ram 27 in a row to the stacking mechanism F, which in the The operation of the stacking mechanism F is the same for the one-half pound bars as it is for the one-quarter pound bars. The speed and manner of operation is the same in the two cases, so far as the stacking mechanism is concerned. As shown in Fig. 10, the stacker lifts one one-half pound bar upon the bar directly in front of it, and after forming the stack, progressively advances the same through the carton folding stages.

As pointed out in connection with the article feeding mechanism A, in which selective adjustment is afforded in the case of onequarter and one-halfpound bars, it being desired to increase the rate of movement of the one-quarter pound bars over that of the one-half pound bars, inasmuch as the onehalf poundbars are twice the size of the onequarter pound bars, similarly suitable adjustment is likewise necessary in the case of the plunger 27 the sheet feeding and severing mechanism C and kicker E. The rate of operation of each of these mechanisms must be adjusted in accordance with the size of the articles delivered to the machine. Each mechanism operates at a greater rate of speed for the one-quarter pound bars than for the one-half pound bars.

In accordance with this embodiment a main driving shaft 28 extends transversely of the machine frame 29, and is driven through suitable gearing from a power shaft 30. In this chain of connections between the power shaft 30 and driving shaft 28, and sprocket and chain connection 31 is provided for the carton feeding mechanism D, the speed of which remains constant irrespective of the size of articles initially delivered to the machine. The driving shaft 28 is con-' nected for operating a driven shaft 32 and connecting these shafts is a sprocket and chain connection 33, and a sprocket and chain. connection 34. a

It will be observed that the sprocket and 7 chain connection .33 is such as to drive the shaft 32 one-half as fast as the sprocketand chain connection 34, because of the relative size of the sprocket wheels selected in each instance. Suitable idlers 35 are provided for each connection. Mounted on the shaft 32 and free to rotate thereon are a pair of discs 36 driven respectively by the drive connections and 34. interposed between the discs 36 is a driving member 37 which is fixed to the shaft 32 for rotation therewith. Slidable transversely ofthe drive member 37 is a pin 38, to which is secured a handle 39. Openings 40 are formed in the discs 36 to receive the pin 38. 5

It is manifest that when the pin 38 is in engagement with one of the discs the member 37 will be driven by the driving connection associated with that particular disc and the other disc freely rotates about the shaft 32. The length of the pin 38 is so chosen that when in engagement with one disc the opposite end is free from the other disc. In order to hold the pin securely in adjusted position, a spring pressed dog 41 may be provided in the member 37 to engage detents in the pin 38. By moving the pin 38 to one position the shaft 32 will be driven twice as fast as in the other position, depending upon whether the driving connection 34 or 33 is employed.

The shaft 32 has a sprocket and chain connection 42 with a shaft 43, on which is mounted a cam for operating the kicker mechanism The shaft 43 is connected by sprocket and chain connection 44 with the sheet feeding and severing mechanism C, and is also connected by a sprocket and chain connection 45 with a shaft 46, on which is mounted the cam 4 that operates the article feeding mechanism A heretofore described. The connections 42, 44 and 45 are such that the driven part operates at the same rate as the driving part.

From the above description it will be readily understood that the article feeding device A, the sheet feeding and severing mecha-i nism C and kicker E, are conjointly operated from a single drive shaft 28, and by manipulation of a simple and positive clutch the speed of operation be readily and conveniently varied independently'of the remaining mechanism, the carton feeding and stacking mechanism operating uniformlyirrespectively of the size of the article delivered to the machine.

The sheet feeding and severing device Q P.1- vt CBYY'JP 1C! 5' a r is at 311.3 e eee .Mciec se men s or cLLL ferent len ths into t e oath of movement of b the butter bars 1t b6111 evident that a lon er sheet is necessary for wrapping the one-half 7 pound bars than the sheet required for Wrapping the one-quarter pound bars. This mechanism is conveniently adjustable for continuously feeding a sheet of either length.

As shown. upright side frames 47 are mounted on the machine frame 27, and extending transversely of the side frames'are pairs of shafts 48, 49 and 50, on which pairs of rollers 51, 52 and 53 are respectively mounted. One of the shafts 49 is provided with a sprocket 54 which forms the driving connection for the mechanism, a suitable clutch having an operating rod 56 being adapted to operatively connect the sprocket 54 with the shaft 49. fixed to one of the shafts 49 to effect adjustme t of the rolls preparatory to operation.

11S shown, the rolls 51 on the shafts 48 are driven through gearing from one of the shafts 49, and for this purpose a relatively small gear 58 on one shaft 49 meshes with a smaller gear 59 on stub shaft 60, the latter gear m shing with a larger gear 61 on the shaft 48. The gear 61 is splined to the shaft 48 for axial movements thereon, and is capable of selective engagement with the gear 59 or smaller gear 62 also on the stub shaft 60. in order to shift the gear '51 from one position to the other, a yoke 64 engages a grooved wheel 65 fixed to the gear s1, a rod having a knob 65 permits convenient adjustment. The stub shaft 60, which is fixed to the adjacent side frame 47, has an offset axis for the gear 59, which is mounted eccentrically of the gear 62 to enable these gears to be engaged by the gear 61. The gear 62 meshes with a larger gear 63 on a shaft 49.

The shaft 49 is connected to drive one of the shafts through a train of gears 63, 66 and 67, the gear ratio being such that the shaft 50 is rotated at a speed twice as great as that of the shaft 49. The gearing, including the train of gears 58, 59 and 61, is such that the shaft 48 is rotated at a slower speed than the speed of the shaft 49, the ratio being approximately 1 to 1. When the gear 61 is in this position, the feed rolls 51 and severing rolls 52 are adjusted properly for severing segments of a size sufficient to wrap one-quarter pound bars. When the gear 61 is shifted to mesh with the gear 62, the speed of the shaft 48 is the same as that of the shaft 49, and in this position, a segment is 52 is provided with a knife blade 71, and the other roll is provided with a recess 72 to receive the blade 71 during the cutting period. It is apparent that the continuous sheet of material is out once during each revolution of the severing rolls 52.

Each of the segment feeding rolls 53 is formed with relieved portion 73, the pe riphery of which is closer to the axis of the rolls than the periphery of the remainder of the roll. This is to release the sheets and permit them to pass freely between the rolls when the portions 73 are in register or juxtaposed relation. The segment feeding rolls A hand wheel 57 53 are normally out of engagement with the sheet material and are moved into engagement with the material at the point at which the knife blade 71 is moved to cutting or severing position.

One of each set of rolls 51, 52 and 53 are mounted in horizontally slidable bearings 74 and spring means 75 yieldingly urges the sliding bearings toward the axis of the opposed roll. This insures proper feeding of the sheet material and affords a yielding action. in order normally to hold the segment feeding rolls 53 out of engagement with the sheet material, an arm 7 5 is mounted adjacent each of the side frames 47. The arms 76 have central pivots on stub shafts 77 project ing from the side frame 47, and the lower ends of these arms engage the slidably mounted shaft 50 and the opposite ends engage cams 7 S rotatable with one of the shafts 49. The cams 78 are so constructed that the arms 76 are recnrrently actuated to move the transversely movable shaft 50 away from its opposed shaft, thereby to separate the segment feeding rolls 53 from each other. At the period when the knife blade 71 is operative to sever the sheet material the arms 76 are relieved, thereby to bring the unrelieved peripheral portions of the rolls 53 into engagement with the sheet and maintain the same taut for the severing operation.

The rolls 53 remain in feeding engagement with the severed segment for a predetermined period, and then are moved by the cams 7 8 and arms 7 6 out of engagement, releasing the severed segment. The angle of the cam 78 is approximately 180 so that the segment feeding rolls 53 are separated during one-half the revolution of the rolls 52, and are in engagement during the other half of the revolution. Inasmuch as the segment rolls 53 rotate at a speed twice as great as that of the rolls 52, it is apparent that during one revolution of the rolls 53, they are in engagement, and for the next complete revolution are separated from each other.

As shown in Fig. 16, the segment feeding rolls 53 are adjusted for feeding segments of the sheet material of a size suitable to wrap the one-quarter pound bars. In the position shown, the knife blade has severed the segment, and the segment feeding rolls are in engagement with the end portion of the sheet material to maintain the same taut. lhereafter, the segment feeding rolls operate through a complete revolution to feed the severed se ment into the path of movement of the advancing butter bars. Subsequently, these rolls are relie'ed to receive the next succeeding sheet portion. The severed segments for the one-quarter pound bars are guided by vertically disposed guides 79, and the lower edges are supported below the path of movement of the butter bars by a substantially U-shaped supporting member 80. Y

The member is pivoted at 8 1, and is provided with a handle 82. Carried by the handle is a spring pressed plunger 83, which is movable over a curved guide 84. The frictional engagement between the pin 83 and guide 8&- retains the supporting member 80 in its adjusted position. By swinging the handle 82 in a cloc vise direction (Fig. 12), it is properly positioned to receive properly position the severed sheet segments for the one-half pound butter bars.

The severed sheets for tie one-quarter pound bars and one-half pound bars are supported in such manner that one-half the sheet segment is disposed above the path of movement of the bars, and the other ialf below the path of movement, so that as the bars are advanced, the latter will engage the central portion of the sheet. inasmuch as the sheet for the one-half pound bar is longer than for the one-quarter pound bar, the lower edge of this sheet must be positioned at a greater distance below the path of movement of the bars than for the onequarter pound bar. For this purpose the sup porting member 80 is moved to the lower osition shown on the dotted lines on Fig. 12. lVith the lower edge portion of the sheet in engagement with the supporting member 80, the upper edge portion still remains between the segment feeding rolls 53. A(lj11tment of these rolls is, therefore, necessary to insure release of the sheet segment to permit the latter to be moved away from the rolls when the sheet is engaged by the advancing butter bar. For this purpose one of the segment feeding rolls 53 is free to rotate on its respective shaft, and is adjustable so hat its relieved peripheral portion registers with the severed sheet segment at the time at which release of the segment is necessary.

Adjustment of one of the segment feeding rolls 53 is effected by rotating it relatively with the other to alter the relative positions of the relieved portions. As shown, a collar 84 is fixed to a shaft 50 for rotation therewith, and pivoted to the collar and disposed longitudinally of the shaft 50 is a spring pressed dog 85, whichis engageable in notches 86 and 87 in a ring 88 secured to the roller 53. By releasing the dog the roller 53 may be turned to engage the dog 85 in either the notch 86 or 87. When the dog engages the notch 86 the rolls will be positioned as shown in Fig. 16, and if the dog is engaged in the notch 87, the rolls will be positioned as shown in Fig. 17.

Mounted on the side frames 47 is a stand ard 89 having arms 90 and 91, the arm 90 supporting roll 92 of sheet wrapping material and the arm 91supporting a similar roll 98 of sheet wrapping material. From the roll 92 the sheet material is conducted downward- 1y over a guide roll'9 i to the feeding rolls- 51. From the roll 93 the sheet is conducted over a guide roll 95 into a container 96', in which the sheet is suitably coated with paraffin or other similar substance. The sheet passes around a roller 97 disposed within the container or bath 96 and then extends upwardly around a guide roll 98, from which it leads to the respective feeding roll 51, where it meets the sheet from the roll 92.

[although the embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in connection with a machine for wrapping and packaging butter bars of different sizes, it is to be ui'iderstood that the above description is given by way of illustration and not of limitation, and other articles may be wrapped and packaged by this machine without departing from the spirit of the invention. Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

WVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article wrapping machine, a guide along which articles are advanced, a vertically movable receiver at one end of said guide, a stop plate adjacent said receiver, a top plate carried by and movable with said receiver adapted to engage the top surface of articles delivered to the receiver, and a detachable extension member for said top plate for articles of larger size.

2. In an article wrapping machine, an article feeding mechanism, an article feed shaft connected to operate said mechanism, a kicker for further advancing articles, a kicker shaft for operating said kicker, an operative connection between said article feed and kicker shafts, a driven shaft, an operative connection between said driven shaft and one of said kicker and article feed shafts, a pair of members free to rotate on said driven shaft, means to clutch one member or the other to said driven shaft, means for driving said members, one member being driven at a greater rate of speed than the other, thereby concomitantly to adjust speed of operation of said kicker and article feeding mechanism.

8. In an article wrapping machine, an article feeding mechanism, an article feed shaft connected to operate said mechanism, a kicker for further advancing articles, a kicker shaft for operating said kicker, an operative connection between said article feed and kicker shafts, a driven shaft, an operative connection between said driven shaft and one of said kicker and article feed shafts, a pair of members free to rotate on said driven shaft, means to clutch one member or the other to said driven shaft, said clutch means being such that one member is positively engaged and the other entirely disengaged when moved to clutching position and ineluding a part fixed to said driven shaft, and a slidable clutching element engageahle selectively with said members, means for driving said members, one member being driven at a greater rate of speed than the other, thereby concomitantly to adjust speed of op ration of said kicker and article feeding mechanism.

45. In an article Wrapping machine, an initial feeder for advancing articles, mechanism for enclosing with sheet material the articles advanced by said feeder, a feed frame for advancing articles through said article-enclosing mechanism, power means for driving said initial feeder and feed frame, and a manually operated clutch independent of said power means for regulating the relative speed of operation of said initial feeder and said feed frame.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed out names to this specification.

JOHN P. ALDRICH. HOWARD A. MORRIS. 

